YAKIMA VALLEY
TRANSIT FEASIBILITY STUDY
Online Open House
Help Shape the Future of Transit in the Yakima Valley
The Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG) is conducting a Transit Feasibility Study in order to understand the transportation needs of Yakima County communities and residents just like you.
You can participate in this study by taking this brief survey to help us find better ways to effectively serve the you, and all the unique and diverse residents and communities of the Yakima Valley.
ABOUT THE STUDY
Understanding mobility in the Yakima Valley
We know that the Yakima Valley is a special place: a rapidly growing community with a diverse population, a farming center, a tourist destination, and a cultural hub of Central Washington. Ensuring we have a robust and forward-thinking public transportation system is key to serving our growing communities, providing access to jobs and services, and protecting what makes the Yakima Valley such a special place.
The Yakima Valley Conference of Governments
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At the center of the region’s transportation planning is the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG): an organization composed of government service providers within Yakima County, charged with coordinating and planning the future of our regional public transportation system.
Getting Around in a Growing Region
Our region's significant rural population and multiple service providers means using transit to get around is very difficult for so many valley residents. While using transit is usually easier and more reliable in urban areas like downtown Yakima, service within our rural communities is often more limited and less frequent. The COVID-19 pandemic has only made trying to get around more difficult, adding stress and confusion for all of us trying to get around.
How You Can Help
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YVCOG wants to hear from you! We need your help to ensure transit service providers use their resources to serve the real needs of our growing community effectively and efficiently!
Tell us how you get around the Yakima Valley. What works? What doesn't work? Where could we improve? With your help, we can better understand the region’s public transportation resources and develop strategies to better serve all members and communities in our diverse region.
PROJECT GOALS
The goals of this study are to: Develop a comprehensive understanding of the area’s existing transit services and assets, identify transit gaps and develop opportunities to most efficiently use the area’s transit resources to bridge those gaps, and develop adaptive strategies and long-term recommendations for improving transit access throughout the region to those who need it most.
Inventory
existing transit services and resources throughout the region
Understand
challenges and priorities of riders and stakeholders for future transit serivce
Assess
potential new and more effective transit service access and modes
Develop
a road map and timeline for moving forward, identifying key partners and project milestones
PROJECT SCOPE
This study will address the following Inventory of existing transportation services and assets:
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Assessment of transit demand in unserved and underserved communities
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Analysis of transit service gaps
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Evaluation of strategies and best practices for addressing current shortfalls, which may include partnerships among service providers, first/last mile connection enhancements, improved dissemination of information, incorporation of micro-mobility and mobility as a service (MaaS) strategies, etc.
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Development of an implementation framework for short-and long-term projects
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Community input and engagement, including stakeholder interviews, transit surveys, and public workshops
ACCOMPLISHING THE PROJECT SCOPE
Five tasks are required in order to accomplish the project scope
Local Landscape Scan
Public Engagement
Market Gaps & Needs Assessment
Service Delivery Assessment
Executive Summary & Implementation Framework
CONTACT US
Yakima Valley Conference of Governments
311 N 4th St, Ste 204
Yakima, WA 98901
509.759.7981